Aki leaves it late to rescue Connacht

BUNDEE AKI crossed to rescue Connacht’s blushes in the final play at Stadio Monigo as they made it five away PRO14 wins in a row.

Aki looked set to be the villain when he handed Benetton a penalty in front of the posts two minutes from time which Edoardo Padovani converted as Benetton looked set for their first win of the season.

But Connacht hit back and Aki won the first of two penalties to the right corner before he drove over for the winner in the dying moments to break the Italians’ hearts.

Connacht, with Andy Friend monitoring matters back home in Galway after picking up a knee injury at the Sportsground, struggled to impose themselves after failing to build on a promising start.

They dominated the opening quarter but only had a try from tighthead Finlay Bealham to show for their efforts when he squeezed over after a sustained attack on the home line after 17 minutes, Conor Fitzgerald converting.

But Benetton hit back and built the phases, with Connacht hooker Shane Delahunt binned five minutes from the break as they piled on the pressure.

And the Treviso side made them pay, with former Italian U-20 flanker Davide Ruggeri getting over beside the posts. Then a poor kick from Fitzgerald and slack defending from Peter Sullivan and Aki led to a try from distance from former Italian winger Leonardo Sarto to lead 14-7 at the interval.

Connacht upped the ante after the restart and got back on level terms inside two minutes despite being still down a man as they drove at the Benetton line and loosehead Paddy McAllister got over for his first try on his 16th appearance.

Benetton enjoyed plenty of possession and looked set to finally get their first win of the season when Padovani converted the late penalty, but there was still time for Aki to rescue a fifth away win in a row for Connacht in the league.

BENETTON RUGBY – J Hayward; A Esposito, J Riera (R Tavuyara 70), L Morisi, L Sarto; E Padovani, D Duvenage (c); T Gallo (N Quaglio 64), C Els (T Baravalle 62), I Nemer (Z Nearchou 64); I Herbst (M Canali 62), E Snyman; D Ruggeri, M Zuliani (G Pettinelli 72), R Favretto.

CONNACHT– T O’Halloran; P Sullivan (J Porch 59), T Daly, B Aki, A Wootton; C Fitzgerald, K Marmion (C Blade 64); P McAllister (D Buckley 20-31 HIA & 56), S Delahunt (J Murphy 66), F Bealham (D Robertson-McCoy 56); O Dowling, G Thornbury (N Murray 66); E Masterson (J Murphy 41-45) (S Masterson 68), J Butler (c), P Boyle.

REF – M Mitrea (Italy)